US embassy cable - 02ROME6133

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Identifier:	02ROME6133
Wikileaks:	View 02ROME6133 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Rome
Created:	2002-12-24 10:53:00
Classification:	SECRET
Tags:	AORC EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF EAGR EAID KUNR PHUM PREF WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFPAORC WFP
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 05 ROME 006133

SIPDIS

JOINT STAFF FOR JE/J4/J5
STATE FOR PRM, EUR/WE, EUR/NE, SA/INS, IO/EDA
USAID FOR A/AID, AA/DCHA, DCHA/OFDA, DCHA/FFP, AA/ANE,
PPC/DP, PPC/DC
USDA/AS OR U/S PENN
GENEVA FOR RMA
BRUSSELS FOR USEU
USUN FOR MLUTZ
NSC FOR JDWORKEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, WFPAORC, WFPAORC, WFPAORC, WFPAORC, WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS

REF: ROME 6072

CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR TONY HALL FOR REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).

--------
SUMMARY
---------

1. (S) CURRENT RATION CARD SYSTEM IS CUMBERSOME FOR THOSE
WHO BECOME DISPLACED, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT INVOLVES MOVEMENT
FROM THE SOUTH/CENTRAL TO THE NORTH. U.N. WORLD FOOD PROGRAM
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 06133 01 OF 05 241419Z
(WFP) HAS OBTAINED PARTIAL DATABASE INFORMATION FOR THE
SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS: NUMBER OF FAMILIES AND LIST OF FOOD
AGENTS BROKEN DOWN BY SUB-DISTRICT. WFP HAS CONDUCTED A
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY SURVEY IN THE NORTH AND A MORE
ANECDOTAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY IN SOUTH/CENTRAL. WFP COUNTRY
DIRECTOR (CD) SAYS THAT THE MOST VULNERABLE IN IRAQ LIVE IN
BASRA AND OTHERS ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE
POOREST OF THE POOR'S, (30 TO 35 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION)
CURRENT FOOD SUPPLY WOULD PROBABLY BE DEPLETED BY
LATE-FEBRUARY. WFP CD FEELS VERY STRONGLY THAT KEEPING OR
QUICKLY REVIVING THE CURRENT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IS THE ONLY
OPTION, BUT WFP HQ MAINTAINS ITS CURRENT THREE SCENARIOS.
THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ'S (GOI) MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT (MOT)
PLAYS A PIVOTAL ROLE IN THE SUCCESS OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND
KEEPING IT RUNNING IN SOME SHAPE OR FORM IS CRITICAL, SAYS
WFP CD. IF MOT STAFF COULD NOT BE RELIED UPON TO RE-START
THE SYSTEM UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP, WFP'S NATIONAL AND
INTERNATIONAL STAFF NEEDS WOULD EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE. IN
ANTICIPATION, WFP HAS ALREADY BEGUN TRAINING ITS NATIONAL
STAFF IN THE BASICS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS AND
REPORTING. MUST BE READY TO LOGISTICALLY ADDRESS MAJOR
UPHEAVAL AT PORT UMM QASR AND ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY. WFP
ESTABLISHES GULF TASK FORCE, WITH WFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR
KHALED ADLY AT THE HELM. END SUMMARY.

------------
BACKGROUND
------------

2. (C) ON DECEMBER 20, SENIOR EMERGENCY COORDINATOR (SEC)
DAVIS IN U.S. MISSION/ROME MET FOR TWO HOURS WITH TORBEN DUE
SECRET

PAGE 04 ROME 06133 01 OF 05 241419Z
(PLEASE PROTECT), WFP COUNTRY DIRECTOR IN IRAQ. HE WAS
PASSING THROUGH WFP HEADQUARTERS (HQ) ON HIS WAY HOME TO
DENMARK FOR THE HOLIDAYS. DAVIS MET ONE-ON-ONE WITH DUE, AND
HE WAS QUITE CANDID AND FORTHCOMING. REF TEL PROVIDED AN
OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT FOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN IRAQ.
DUE WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE CURRENT
SYSTEM AND WFP'S ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AS WELL AS HIS
CONCERNS REGARDING CONTINGENCY PLANNING AND PREPARATIONS IN
BAGHDAD. INFORMATION BELOW BUILDS ON WHAT WAS PROVIDED IN
REF TEL.

--------------------------
IMPORTANCE OF RATION CARD
--------------------------

3. (S) AS REPORTED IN REF TEL, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES A RATION
CARD FOR FOOD. IF ONE MOVES, ONE MUST GET ONE'S NAME TAKEN
OFF THE LIST FROM THE PREVIOUS NEIGHBORHOOD OR TOWN BEFORE IT
CAN BE ADDED TO A NEW LIST. THE RATION CARD NOT ONLY
SPECIFIES ONE'S ADDRESS AND TOWN, BUT ALSO SPECIFICIES WHICH
FOOD/FLOUR AGENT(S) ONE MUST USE. AS THE GOI IS CURRENTLY

SECRET

SECRET PTQ5696

PAGE 01 ROME 06133 02 OF 05 241413Z
ACTION PRM-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00
EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
L-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PRS-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
SA-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
------------------1C5962 241413Z /03
O 241053Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7484
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY BERN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3026
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 06133 02 OF 05 241413Z
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 02 OF 05 ROME 006133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS

EXPELLING KURDS FROM THE KIRKUK AREA AND SENDING THEM NORTH,
WFP IS INTERVENING WITH THE CENTRAL MOT (WHICH MAINTAINS THE
DATABASE) TO HAVE THE DISPLACED KURDS' NAMES REMOVED FROM THE
GOI FOOD DISTRIBUTION LISTS IN THE CENTRAL REGION SO THEY CAN
BE ADDED TO WFP'S LISTS IN THE NORTH. DUE EXPLAINED THIS
PROCESS CAN BE CUMBERSOME. DUE SAID THE RATION CARD IS ALL
IMPORTANT IN IRAQ, RECEIVING A HIGHER VALUE THAN A PERSON'S
IDENTITY CARD AND REINFORCED THAT THE CARD SERVES AS A
GOVERNMENT CONTROL MECHANISM.

-----------------------------------------
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 06133 02 OF 05 241413Z
WFP'S RESPONSIBILITIES IN SOUTH/CENTRAL
-----------------------------------------

4. (C) IN SOUTH/CENTRAL IRAQ, WFP MAKES REGULAR VISITS TO
THE WAREHOUSES--TRANSIT AND EXTENDED DELIVERY POINT (EDP)
WAREHOUSES, OBSERVES ALL LOADING OF COMMODITIES, AND EXAMINES
THE BOOKS OF THE FOOD AND FLOUR AGENTS. WFP HAS 10-15
NATIONAL STAFF IN EACH GOVERNORATE WHO DO THE BULK OF THIS
WORK. DUE REPORTS THAT THE NATIONAL STAFF IS CONSTANTLY
INTIMIDATED BY THE LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS. JUST RECENTLY, DUE
HAD TO MEET WITH MOT TOP MANAGEMENT TO EXPLAIN WHY IT WAS
IMPORTANT FOR THE U.N. TO VISIT THE WAREHOUSES, AS THE MOT
WAS TRYING TO BLOCK SUCH VISITS. DUE CLARIFIED THAT NOT ALL
FOOD GOES INITIALLY TO A TRANSIT WAREHOUSE, AS REPORTED IN
REF TEL; SOME COMMODITIES MAY GO DIRECTLY TO THE EDP FROM THE
ENTRY POINT INTO IRAQ.

5. (C) WFP STAFF ALSO CONDUCT POST-DISTRIBUTION MONITORING
(PDM) IN THE SOUTH/CENTRAL REGIONS (AS THEY ALSO DO IN THE
NORTH). THE QUESTIONNAIRE DEVELOPED FOR THE PDM WAS APPROVED
BY THE GOI. WFP STAFF ARE ABLE TO MAKE IMPROMPTU PDM VISITS
TO HOMES, BUT ARE ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY AN IRAQI ESCORT WHO
IS SUPPOSED TO STAND SOME DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE WFP
INTERVIEWER AND THE BENEFICIARIES, BUT IS ALWAYS WITHIN EAR
SHOT, SO THE BENEFICIARIES ARE CAREFUL WHAT THEY REPORT. WFP
HAS CONDUCTED SOME ONE MILLION PDM INTERVIEWS OVER THE YEARS.

6. (U) THE DECEMBER DISTRIBUTION (FOR FEBRUARY/MARCH), WHICH
IS AGAIN FOR TWO MONTHS, BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6 AND ENDED
DECEMBER 20. (NOTE: NOVEMBER DISTRIBUTION WAS FOR
DECEMBER/JANUARY. END NOTE.) THE GOI TELLS THE FOOD AGENTS
SECRET

PAGE 04 ROME 06133 02 OF 05 241413Z
AND WFP ON WHICH DATE THE MONTHLY DISTRIBUTION IS TO BEGIN.

-----------
DATABASES
-----------

7. (S) AS STATED IN REF TEL, WFP MAINTAINS THE DATABASE OF
BENEFICIARIES IN THE NORTH AND THE GOI'S MOT MAINTAINS THE
DATABASE FOR THE CENTRAL/SOUTH. THE SEC ASKED DUE IF WFP HAD
ANY ACCESS TO THE MOT'S DATABASE. DUE RELAYED THAT IN
PREPARATION FOR POSSIBLE MILITARY ACTIVITY, WFP HAD BEEN
ATTEMPTING TO GET A COPY OF THE LISTS, BUT THUS FAR HAD NOT
SUCCEEDED. WFP HAS, HOWEVER, BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN DATABASE
INFORMATION BY SUB-DISTRICT, WHICH PROVIDES A LISTING OF THE
NUMBERS OF FAMILIES UNDER EACH FOOD/FLOUR AGENT, AND LISTS
THE FOOD/FLOUR AGENTS. IT DOES NOT/NOT CONTAIN ANY NAMES
HOWEVER. A COPY OF THIS LIST HAS BEEN SENT TO WFP'S REGIONAL
OFFICE IN CAIRO. (NOTE: AS WFP ALREADY REALIZES, IT WOULD
BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE A COPY OF THE SOUTH/CENTRAL DATABASE
FOR POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CURRENT SYSTEM. END NOTE.)

SECRET

SECRET PTQ5723

PAGE 01 ROME 06133 03 OF 05 241417Z
ACTION PRM-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00
EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
L-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PRS-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
SA-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
------------------1C5A38 241417Z /03
O 241053Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7485
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY BERN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3027
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 06133 03 OF 05 241417Z
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 03 OF 05 ROME 006133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS

---------------
VULNERABILITY
---------------

8. (C) WFP HAS CONDUCTED A HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY SURVEY
COUNTRYWIDE, HOWEVER IN SOUTH/CENTRAL IT WAS DONE BY THE
NATIONAL STAFF, GATHERING WHAT INFORMATION IT COULD ON A MORE
ANECDOTAL BASIS. EVEN SO, THE SURVEY HAS PROVIDED WFP WITH
SOME GOOD INFORMATION ABOUT VULNERABILITY. IN THE NORTH, THE
SURVEY WAS MORE SOPHISTICATED AND WAS MODELED AFTER SAVE THE
CHILDREN HOUSEHOLD FOOD ECONOMY METHODOLOGY, WHEREBY FAMILIES
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 06133 03 OF 05 241417Z
ARE DIVIDED INTO ONE OF FOUR INCOME GROUPS: RICH,
MIDDLE-INCOME, POOR, AND VERY POOR.

9. (C) WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE GREATEST VULNERABILITY IN THE
COUNTRY, DUE SAID THAT THOSE LIVING IN THE BASRA REGION IN
THE SOUTH ARE THE POOREST IN THE COUNTRY AND VERY VULNERABLE,
EVEN THOUGH IT IS AN OIL-RICH AREA. DUE SAID THAT OTHER THAN
BASRA, THE VULNERABLE ARE SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. 70
PERCENT OF THE POPULATION IN CENTRAL/SOUTH LIVE IN THE
CITIES, BUT DUE DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE URBAN POPULATION IS
NECESSARILY MORE VULNERABLE THAN SOME IN RURAL AREAS. SOME
30 TO 35 PERCENT OF IRAQIS MAKE UP THE POOREST OF THE POOR,
SAYS DUE, AND THEY SELL PART OF THE MONTHLY RATION IN ORDER
TO COME UP WITH THE 250 DINARS PER PERSON (EQUAL TO 0.12 USD)
NEEDED TO PURCHASE THE NEXT MONTH'S RATION.

10. (C) DUE ALSO STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH BENEFICIARIES
RECEIVED A TWO-MONTHS RATION IN NOVEMBER AND IN DECEMBER,
WHICH IN THEORY WOULD PROVIDE FOOD UNTIL THE END OF MARCH,
THE POOREST WOULD ONLY HAVE FOOD UP TO LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY
MARCH IN A BEST-CASE SCENARIO. SOME WILL HAVE SOLD PART OF
IT FOR OTHER NEEDED ITEMS OR CASH. IN ADDITION, THE PDM
VISITS SHOW THAT THE RATION LASTS ABOUT 20-25 DAYS RATHER
THAN A FULL MONTH. THE DECEMBER DISTRIBUTION WAS ALSO NOT
COMPLETE, AS IT WAS MISSING PULSES (BEANS) AND MILK, TWO
IMPORTANT SOURCES OF PROTEIN IN THE RATION.

---------------------------
ONLY ONE SCENARIO SAYS HE
---------------------------

SECRET

PAGE 04 ROME 06133 03 OF 05 241417Z
11. (S) THE IRAQ WFP COUNTRY OFFICE (CO) STRONGLY FEELS THAT
THERE ARE NO OTHER SCENARIOS OTHER THAN REVIVING THE CURRENT
SYSTEM OF FEEDING EVERYONE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. DUE AND
HIS TEAM DO NOT FEEL IT POSSIBLE TO DETERMINE VULNERABILITY
OF 4.9 OR 9.6 MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF 25.8 MILLION, WHEN 60
PERCENT OR MORE ARE TOTALLY OR EXTREMELY DEPENDENT ON THE
FOOD RATION. DUE SAID THIS WAS THE PRIMARY REASON HE CAME TO
ROME: TO CONVINCE WFP UPPER MANAGEMENT OF THIS. "THE PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM HAS/HAS TO FUNCTION--THERE IS NO/NO OTHER
OPTION," SAID DUE. "ENSURING THAT THE MOT REMAINS FUNCTIONAL
IS A KEY/KEY PIECE OF THE EQUATION." THE MOT SERVES AS THE
INTERNATIONAL PROCUREMENT AGENT FOR THE ENTIRE COUNTRY AND
ARRANGES FOR THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT OF COMMODITIES. IT
ARRANGES FOR THE TRANSPORT AND MAINTAINS THE DATABASE OF
BENEFICIARIES IN THE CENTRAL/SOUTH. IT ALSO MAINTAINS THE
WAREHOUSES, FLOUR MILLS, AND SILOS, AND SERVES AS THE OVERALL
PLANNING CENTER. WFP INTERFACES WITH THE MOT EVERY DAY.

12. (S) THE SEC ASKED SEVERAL TIMES IF PUSH CAME TO SHOVE,
HOW WOULD WFP GO ABOUT FEEDING 4.9 OR 9.6 MILLION PEOPLE AS
OUTLINED IN THE CURRENT CONTINGENCY PLANNING. DUE COULD NOT

SECRET

SECRET PTQ5728

PAGE 01 ROME 06133 04 OF 05 241418Z
ACTION PRM-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00
EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
L-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PRS-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
SA-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
------------------1C5A55 241418Z /03
O 241053Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7486
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY BERN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3028
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 06133 04 OF 05 241418Z
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 04 OF 05 ROME 006133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS

EVEN DISCUSS SUCH A SCENARIO AS HE FEELS SO TIED TO THE NEED
TO KEEP THE CURRENT SYSTEM GOING OR REVIVING IT AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE. (NOTE: DUE'S MEETING WITH WFP UPPER MANAGEMENT
TOOK PLACE AFTER THE SEC'S MEETING ON LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
SHE HAS LEARNED THAT WFP HAS DECIDED TO MAINTAIN ITS THREE
SCENARIOS FOR THE TIME-BEING, AND IF NEEDED WOULD COMPRESS
THE TIMING OF ITS EMERGENCY OPERATION (EMOP), IF THE
BENEFICIARY LEVELS AND TONNAGE REQUIREMENTS ROSE. END NOTE.)

13. (C) DUE PROPOSED THAT THE STATUS OF FOUR KEY ELEMENTS
HAS TO BE DETERMINED IMMEDIATELY IN A POST-CONFLICT AREA: 1)
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 06133 04 OF 05 241418Z
HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY; 2) WHAT IS LEFT OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE IN EACH AREA; 3) THE INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITIES
OF THE VARIOUS OFFICES OF THE MOT; 4) CURRENT STOCKS IN
COUNTRY AND WHAT IS IN THE PIPELINE. (NOTE: DUE IS OF THE
UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OIL FOR FOOD (OFF) PROGRAM CURRENTLY
HAS LET CONTRACTS FOR 4.5 TO 5 MILLION METRIC TONS (MT) FOOD
THAT WOULD BE IN THE PIPELINE, RATHER THAN THE 8 MILLION MT
THOUGHT BY WASHINGTON. END NOTE.)

14. (C) REGARDING POINT FOUR ABOVE, DUE SAID IT IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT THAT THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL GIVE WFP LEGAL
OWNERHSIP OF THE OIL FOR IRAQ PROGRAM (OIP) FOOD CONTRACTS.
THIS LEGALITY IS VITAL TO ENSURING THAT THERE IS ENOUGH FOOD
IN THE PIPELINE TO FEED THE CURRENT NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES.

--------------------
STAFF PREPARATIONS
--------------------

15. (C) WFP HAS ALREADY CONDUCTED A MASSIVE TRAINING OF ITS
NATIONAL STAFF IN THE BASICS OF FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND
REPORTING IN PREPARATION FOR THE POSSIBILITY THAT THEY MAY
HAVE TO ASSUME SOME OR ALL OF THESE TASKS. FIVE NATIONAL
STAFF RECENTLY ATTENDED WFP'S EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING
COURSE HELD IN SWEDEN, AND 60 NATIONAL STAFF WILL SOON BE
TRAINED IN ASSESSING HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY. LASTLY, WFP
HUMAN RELATIONS IS DEVELOPING A TRAINING ENTITLED "JUST IN
TIME" WHICH WILL BE READY BY JANUARY 17 AND MADE AVAILABLE TO
WFP IRAQ NATIONAL STAFF. THIS TRAINING CONTAINS SEVERAL
DIFFERENT MODULES PERTAINING TO WFP FIELD OPERATIONS.

SECRET

PAGE 04 ROME 06133 04 OF 05 241418Z
16. (C) DUE SAID THAT IF THE MOT STAFF COULD NOT CONTINUE
THEIR CURRENT FUNCTIONS AND WFP HAD TO PLAY THOSE ROLES, WFP
WOULD NEED APPROXIMATELY 2,600 ADDITIONAL NATIONAL STAFF AND
150 TO 200 INTERNATIONAL STAFF. (COMMENT. FINDING 150 TO
200 EXPERIENCED EMERGENCY WFP INTERNATIONAL STAFF, WHILE
MAINTAINING ITS CURRENT WORLDWIDE OPERATIONS, WOULD BE A
MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR WFP. END COMMENT.)

------------------
GLOOMY THOUGHTS
------------------

17. (S) WHEN ASKED WHAT HE THOUGHT THE GOI MIGHT DO IF
ATTACKED THAT WOULD INHIBIT WFP'S OPERATION, DUE SAID THAT
SADDAM MIGHT BLOW UP PORT UMM QASR, AS WELL AS THE MAJOR BULK
WHEAT STORAGE AND MILLING INSTALLATION ALSO LOCATED AT THE
PORT. THE PORT MUST BE CLEANED DAILY DUE TO THE SAND/SILT
THAT COLLECTS EACH DAY, SO THAT LARGE SHIPS CAN DOCK. ANY
EXPLOSION WOULD MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR SHIPS TO DOCK AT THE
PORT UNTIL NEW DREDGES ARRIVED TO RE-START THE DAILY DREDGING
OPERATION. ALTERNATE PORTS WOULD BE ACABA, KUWAIT, OR

SECRET

SECRET PTQ5729

PAGE 01 ROME 06133 05 OF 05 241418Z
ACTION PRM-00

INFO LOG-00 AGRE-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 DODE-00 WHA-00 SRPP-00
EAP-00 EB-00 EUR-00 H-01 TEDE-00 INR-00 IO-00
L-00 NEA-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OES-00 OIC-02 PRS-00
P-00 SP-00 SSO-00 SS-00 STR-00 TRSE-00 USIE-00
SA-00 DRL-02 G-00 SAS-00 /005W
------------------1C5A77 241419Z /03
O 241053Z DEC 02
FM AMEMBASSY ROME
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7487
INFO AMEMBASSY AMMAN
AMEMBASSY ANKARA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN
AMEMBASSY BERN
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS
AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
AMEMBASSY LONDON
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
AMEMBASSY PARIS
AMEMBASSY VIENNA
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC//J2//
COMJSOC FT BRAGG NC
JOINT STAFF WASHDC
USEU BRUSSELS 3029
USMISSION GENEVA
USMISSION USNATO
USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
SECRET

PAGE 02 ROME 06133 05 OF 05 241418Z
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
USCINCEUR VAIHINGEN GE
WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC

S E C R E T SECTION 05 OF 05 ROME 006133

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/23/2012
TAGS: AORC, EAGR, EAID, KUNR, PHUM, PREF, WFP
SUBJECT: WFP/IRAQ COUNTRY DIRECTOR SHARES THOUGHTS

IRANIAN PORTS, SAYS DUE, BUT CHANGES WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE TO
THE SHIPPING CONTRACTS AND THERE MAY BE COST IMPLICATIONS.
THE GOI COULD ALSO HOLD UP ALL OIP FOOD COMMODITY CONTRACTS
THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN PROCESS.

18. (S) DUE (PLEASE PROTECT) ALSO CONFIDED THAT A RUSSIAN
DIPLOMAT HAD TOLD HIM THAT THE GOI HAS DUG DEEP HOLES NEXT TO
ALL OIL WELLS WHERE IT ALREADY HAS PLANTED EXPLOSIVES.

----------------------------
WFP TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED
SECRET

PAGE 03 ROME 06133 05 OF 05 241418Z
----------------------------

19. (C) ALSO AS A RESULT OF THE FRIDAY MEETING, WFP DECIDED
TO ESTABLISH A GULF TASK FORCE WITH THE FRIDAY DISCUSSION
SERVING AS THE FIRST MEETING. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, IS THE
SECOND MEETING. THE TASK FORCE PLANS TO MEET ONCE A WEEK.
MEMBERS INCLUDE THE WFP COUNTRY OFFICES IN THE REGION AND WFP
HQ PERSONNEL, WITH KHALED ADLY, THE WFP REGIONAL DIRECTOR IN
CAIRO SERVING AS THE TASK FORCE LEADER. WFP HAS ALSO DECIDED
TO RUN ANY POTENTIAL GULF OPERATION FROM ROME, SO ADLY WILL
TRANSFER TO ROME FROM HIS OFFICE IN CAIRO. HE MOVES HERE
AFTER THE HOLIDAYS. (NOTE. DURING THE AFGHANISTAN OPERATION
LAST YEAR, IT BECAME CLEAR THERE WERE TOO MANY LAYERS IN
WFP'S SYSTEM WHEN IT COMES TO RUNNING MASSIVE OPERATIONS,
WITH THE REGIONAL CLUSTERS AND REGIONAL OFFICES-THUS THE
DECISION TO MOVE ADLY TO ROME FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
END NOTE.)
HALL

SECRET

>
2002ROME06133 - Classification: SECRET